Hawk: I’ll shock the world

Native American Shawn Hawk intends to shock the world when he faces Nathan Cleverly this weekend. It would be one of boxing’s biggest upsets of recent times if the Sioux Warrior snatched the unbeaten Welshman’s WBO World Light-Heavyweight crown at the Staples Center, Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Hawk who was approached as a late replacement for Ryan Coyne just last week, but only got confirmed as Cleverly’s latest challenger on Sunday. But, he promised: “I have been preparing like the fight was going to happen and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I would win. I stay in shape and never weigh more than 180lb so I am always ready to go if the phone rings for a fight. I knew plenty about Nathan and watched tapes of him long before I knew I was going to fight him. He is a good champion. He is fast, tall, throws a lot of punches and reminds me a lot of another great fighter Joe Calzaghe.”

Hawk has won 23 of his 26 professional contests, but the community in the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe make sure he can box full time. Hawk, 30, added: “Right now there are no Native American boxers successful at the highest level and I want to make my community proud on Saturday night.”